The Pittsburgh Steelers lost one of their hidden gems in the offseason when Calvin Austin moved on to greener pastures. Never a true star, Austin wore a lot of hats and offered a lot of value to Pittsburgh for a former fourth-round pick.
It felt like the end of the road here, though, as the Steelers wanted to revamp their receiver room this offseason, which would have diminished Austin’s role.
Austin signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal to join the New York Giants as a punt returner and offensive weapon. He looked like the clear fourth option on the team with the potential to be more if needed.
All of those hopes may have come to a halt after the Giants signing spree yesterday.
Ex-Pittsburgh Steelers WR Calvin Austin might already be on the Giants' roster bubble
The Giants added three receivers with veteran experience to their team. It feels like an obvious target to aid their failing depth chart. Austin is a part of that.
Odell Beckham Jr. is the biggest name of the bunch. He has been away from football for a little while, but it would be surprising if he doesn’t compete for a roster spot.
JuJu Smith-Schuster is a familiar name who was also added to the roster following a workout with the Giants. While his star is fading, he has still proven to be a dependable option for his quarterback when targeted.
Perhaps the biggest threat to Austin is Braxton Berrios. He isn’t much of a receiving threat anymore, but he has extensive experience as both a kick and punt returner. And with Gunner Olszewski feared to have a torn Achilles, there is a role for a return man up for grabs.
It feels like Austin is in a weird spot. He might not be the best receiver of that mix, and one could argue that Berrios is the better returner overall. Heck, Austin’s best trait on offense is his deep ability, and Darius Slayton has that role covered.
We could quickly get to the point where the Giants are asking Austin, “What is it that you do here?” and the answer may not be pretty. Once again, he has to prove his worth on his new team.
At one point, it looked like Calvin Austin was on the verge of breaking out. Now, he looks like a distant afterthought that could quickly get buried in New York. Those three signings could mean trouble for this former Steelers starter, and his stint with the Giants could be shorter than expected.
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